Gas distillate trap



June 5, 1951 'r. J. MCINTYRE 2,555,452

GAS DISTILLATE TRAP Filed Feb. 17, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Tillman Jones Mc lnfyre y WWW H. n 2 2 w m 5 h a m 5 m .W.

w w 2 m t C I 2 w M U h mm m T. J. M INTYRE GAS DISTILLATE TRAP June 5, 1951 Filed Feb. 17, 1947 June 5, 1951 Filed Feb. 17, 1947 Fig.

T. J. M INTYRE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4.

I I 50 I r l V I e g 34 j 88 I 5 36 5 .1 3 i 42 f a] as lure/1101' Tillman Jones McIntyre Patented June 5,' 1951 GAS DISTILLATE TRAP Tillman Jones McIntyre, Crowley, La. Application February 17, 1947, Serial No. 729,012

8 Claims.

This invention resides in novel and useful improvements in gas distillate traps and more specifically pertains to a safety device for shutting down a gas well upon breakage of the gas flow line therefrom.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a device which will operate as a safety device to shut in a gas well upon failure or rupture of the gas delivery line therefrom; which will also serve to function as a gas distillate or separator trap; which is provided with automatic means for discharging the condensate collecting in said trap; which may be manually operable to shut off the flow of a gas well; wherein means is provided for shutting off the flow of a gas well in response to collection of a predetermined amount of fluid in the distillate trap; wherein novel and efficient means are provided for controlling the flow of gas from a well to the gas delivery line thereof; wherein an improved control valve is provided for regulating the flow of gas to said gas delivery conduit; wherein a novel form of liquid condensate drainage valve is provided; wherein a balanced pressure valve construction is provided for controlling the liquid drainage from said trap; wherein a novel and efficient form of filter means is provided for the gas outlet from said trap; and wherein a highly eflicient dependable and durable attachment is provided which is capable of use with any type of flowing gas well and is withal inexpensive in construction.

These, together with various ancillary objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are realized by this device, one embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a suitable form of gas well flow lines with conventional mechanisms associated therewith, and to which this invention may be applied.

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the gas distillate trap forming the subject of this invention;

Figure 3 is a detail in vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4. is an elevational view of the gas distillate trap of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detailed view in vertical section taken substantially upon the section line 5--5 of Figure 2; and, t

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view and taken in vertical section substantially upon the section line 66 of Figure 2.

Attention is now directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the various views and particularly to Figure 1 showing in diagrammatic form a conventional type of gas well flow line. The numeral l0 designates generally the well casing of any conventional type of gas well, which is provided with a detachable well cap l2 and a master control valve for controlling the output of the gas well. A suitable gauge I6 is connected to the valve M for indicating the flow pressure delivered by the well, and connected therewith is a pressure relief or safety valve ll! of known type. The aforementioned elements of the flow line are connected by a conduit 20 with a flow line gauge 22 and a conventional type of heater 24 which by suitable conduits is connected to Fisher regulator for controlling the flow and output of the well. This latter device is of known design and function to regulate the flow of the well to maintain a constant pressure between predetermined minimum and maximum limits of pressure in a flow line 28. When the maximum pressure on the downstream side of the regulator valve exceeds the predetermined set maximum, the device operates to close and shut off the flow of gas from the well to the flow line. Within the predetermined limits, the device operates to supply more or less gas from the well to maintain a predetermined relatively constant pressure in the flow line.

The conduit 28 is connected with a conventional form of separator 30 which functions to collect and remove oil or other liquid entrained by the flowing gas from the well, and to periodically discharge as by means of a valve control line 32 said accumulated liquid to suitable storage tanks, not shown. The gas, separated by the separator 30, is conducted by the line 34 to the novel gas distillate trap and safety device 36 forming the subject of this invention, from which the gas is delivered by a conduit 38 constituting a fiow delivery line of the well and whichmay extend for a distance of several miles to deliver the gas to any suitable point of use. It may be here noted that the aforementioned arrangement occupies a relatively smaller length of flow line, such as about five hundred feet.

The gas distillate trap 36 is provided with a liquid discharge line 40 and a sight gauge 42 for indication by visual inspection the height of the liquid contained in said trap.

The aforementioned system is one of a conventional and known type except for the presence of the gas distillate trap 36 to be now described. The addition of the trap has the dual function of providing a safety device and constituting a second gas and liquid separator, together with various ancillary functions to be later set forth.

As shown best in Figure 4, the trap 36 consists of a preferably metallic cylinder which is supported upon suitable tripod legs 44. As shown in Figure 2, the trap comprises cylindrical Walls 46 having an integral base portion 48 at its lower end and an enlarged and strengthened boss 50 at its upper end upon which is seated a head member 52 which is detachably secured thereto as by suitable fastening means 54.

Removably and axially disposed through the head member 52, is a gas outlet conduit 56 to which is connected the gas flow line 38. Supported and depending from the head plate 52 as tion in the upper end of the cylinder 46. This cylinder is composed of an annula drum which is filled with any suitable packing means as mdicated at 62 to comprise a filter for gas entering the distillate trap 36 through the inlet gas pipe 34 and leaving the trap through the out let 56. Upon both its upper and lower surfac es, the filter 99 is provided'with a plurality of framinations or apertures 64 to permitan even now of gas therethrough over the entire cross sectional area of the filter. Disposed axially of the filter 69 and ofthe passage 56, is a suitable bore fifrconstituting .a guide extending through the filter and slidably receiving in guided relation the valve actuating rod 68 having an enlarged head 19 at the lower side thereof for a purpose to be subsequently set forth. I v c As shown bestin Figure 6, the upper end of the actuating rod 98 is screw-threaded as at 12 for engagement with a corresponding axial bore in the head 14 of agas outlet valve whose stem 16 is slidably received in the passage 56 in guided relation by spaced guides 18 therein. At the upper end of the valve stem 16, is a collar 99 which may be longitudinally adjusted upon the valve stem and which is intended to limit the amount of opehingmovement of the valve 14 from the valve seat 82 formed upon the inner termination :1

of the conduit .38.

"It may be here noted that it is intended that the valve be disposed'in a vertical position, and downwardly opening from the seat 92, and that the valve will be normally open by reason of'the ellectof gravity thereon; and that it is contemplated that in response to a sufficient velocity of flow through the outlet conduit 38, the valve will be closed by this flow and thereby shut off delivery of "gasto the gas delivery line 38, in a manner to be subsequently set forth. 7

The gas inlet conduit 34 enters the chamber formed in the cylindrical member 49 at a point disposed belcwrthe filter member 69, and across its orifice is provided with a baffie 84, shown best in Figure 5, which is attached to the wall of the casing 49 as by a pair of diametrically disposed integral legs 86. This bafiie is provided for the purpose of preventing the pressure and velocity of the incoming gas from directly impinging upon any apparatus within the casing 49, and also for the purpose of causing a liquid entrained thereby to be condensed upon 'the baffle and dropped into the chamber within the casing. V

Preferably diametrically opposite the gas inlet conduit 34, the casing is provided with suitable bosses having threaded bores 38 for receiving the visual liquid gauge 42 above mentioned.

Preferably centrally disposed through the base member 48, is an aperture 99 constituting the fluid condensate outlet opening for the chamber within the casing 46 which aperture is surmounted by a bushing or sleeve 92 attached thereto in any suitable manner and provided adjacent its lower surface with a plurality of ports 93 for permitting the inflow of liquid into the sleeve 92 from the interior of the casing 45. A sleeve 94 constituting a guide sleeve rises from the upper end of the bushing 92 to a suitable height within the casing 46.

A float 98 of any suitable size, shape and material, has a guide rod 96 secured thereto, which guide rod is slidable within the guide bushing 94 and is rigidly attached at its lowe end to a liquid discharge valve stem I99.

4 his shown more clearly in Figure 3, the base plate 48 has secured therebeneath in a manner to surround the discharge opening 99, a discharge ccn duitefl which receives by screw-threaded engagement the tubular sleeve or bushing I92 being externally screw-threaded as at I94 and provid'd with an internal axial bore I96. The upper end of this bore terminates in a valve seat which is engageable by a poppet type of valve I98 carried by the lower end of the valve rod I99. The bushing I92 screw-threadedly engages a conduit of a T-coupling II9 having a discharge elbow I I2 for a purpose to be later set forth. As shown in Figure 2, the elbow II 2 is connected to a manually operable control valve H4 and by a conduit I I6 with suitable liquid condensate storage tanks, not Shawn,

At its lower end, the T I i9 receives an externallyscrew thre'aded member III constituting a plug and provided with a depending skirt portion H8 and an internal bore II9 adapted to receive a packing material I29, While a laterally disposed elbew I22 provides means for supplying lubricant to the packing I29 as desired.

The lower end of the bore H9 is closed by an externally threaded closure plug I24 having a depending cylindrical member I26 which is apertured intermediate its ends as at I28 for a purpose to be later set forth and is provided with an interior chamber I39 closed at its lower end as by a closure cap I32. Cai'riedby the lower end of the valve I98, is a depending rod I34 which extends through the discharge pa sag I96, the hollow T-coupling II9, axial bores in the plugs I ll and l24, through the packing I29 and into the chamber I39; and at its lower end extends into a cylindrical member I39 carried by the cap I32. Preferably, the rod I34 terminates in a piston I31 slidable in the cylinder I35, which is provided with pressure inlet ports I39 at the lower end thereof.

As shown in Figure 2, a drainage conduit I38 communicates with the interior of the trap 49 and is connectdby a manual control valve I49 and conduit [4] with the above mentioned apertured pass I28, At its lower end, the drainage line I38 is provided with a manually operable draihage valve I42 andrrom this extends to any suitable drainage collection means, not shown.

The operation or the gas distillate trap as so far described, is as follows. Gas, containing any entrained liquid, is discharged from the conduit against the bafile 84 and into the interior of the casing 46. The liquid distillate or condensate is collected and accumulates in the lower end of the chamber 46 above the partition 48, being retained therein by the normally closed liquid .discharge valve I99 engaging its seat upon the bushing Th e gas entering the chamber rises through the filter member 99 and isdischarged through the normally open gas discharge valve 14 through the gas how conduit 38. Any liquid entering the chamber within the casing 46 freely ilowsby means of the apertures 93 and sleeve 92 int? the liquid discharge conduit 49 and accumulates above vans I98 therein. When the liquid has reached a predetermined height in the asin the float 99 is lifted thereby to elevate the valve ro'd I and raise the valve I99 from itsseat, thereby permitting the discharge of liquid condensate from the casing 46 past the' valve I98, through the bore I96 in the bushing I92, into the r -coupling H9 and by means of the elbow II2, 'valve IIAand conduit H6 to suitable liquid collection tanks, not shown.

If for any reason, the condensate is unable to discharge from the casing 46, as by reason of the collection tanks being full, or the valve H4 being closed as set forth hereinafter, the liquid rises until the float 96 rises above its normal valve discharge position, until it engages the head ill on the valve actuating rod 68, and thereby urges the valve 14 into seated position upon the seat I2. As soon as the valve seats, the accumulated pressure in the chamber of the casing 46 rises above the predetermined maximum flow pressure of the regulator valve, and this back pressure upon the regulator valve instantly causes the latter to cut 01? the flow of gas from the well, thereby stopping all flow of gas.

A somewhat similar situation prevails if for any reason the gas delivery flow line 38 should be ruptured. on the downstream side of the safety device 36. In this event, the sudden and complete release of back pressure in the casing of the distillate trap permits an increase of the rate of flow from the conduit 34, which rate of flow immediately closes the valve 74 against its seat 82 to cause the Fisher regulating valve to shut in the well in the manner aforementioned. As will be understood, proper adjustment of the collar 86 upon the valve stem 16 will permit adjusting the amplitude of movement of the valve 74 from its seat, and thereby determine the pressure or rate of flow which will urge the valve to its seat.

In some instances, it may be desired to manually shut off the flow of the gas well and for this purpose the manually operable valve H4 may be closed, causing the liquid level to rapidly rise in the casing 46 until the float 538 is lifted to a position to actuate valve operating head It, close the valve 14 and cause the Fisher regulating valve to shut in the Well in the manner above described.

By means of the drainage line I38 and valve I42, the distillate trap may be drained and sediment removed therefrom periodically as desired. By means of the valve Mil, the pressure prevailing within the chamber of the casing 46 may be continuously applied by means of conduit I lI and apertured elbow I28 to the interior of the chamber I39. This pressure is communicated by the ports I39 into the cylinder I36, and acting upon the lower surface of the piston I 31 urges the rod I 34 upwardly against the valve I98. The area of the piston i3! is so chosen that this pressure substantially counterbalances the pressure applied to the valve I08 by means of the pressure prevailing in the chamber of the casing 46. Thus, the float merely has to lift the weight of the valve I08 and the associated valve rod, without having-to overcome the pressure of the casing 46 which tends to close the valve and maintain it on its valve seat.

. From the foregoing, it is believed that the manner of operating and constructing this device will be readily understood, and since various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art from a perusal of the foregoing specification and drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gas distillate trap comprising a chamber, gas inlet, gas outlet and liquid outlet ports for said chamber, a float controlled valve for said liquid outlet port, a normally open valve for said gas outlet port, means spaced from said float for closing said gas outlet valve in response to pr determined upward movement of said float, a liquid by-pass from said chamber, and means associated with said Icy-pass for counterbalancing pressure from said chamber upon said float controlled valve.

2. The combination of claim 1 and means for adjusting the extent of opening of said gas outlet port.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said closing means includes a rod secured to said normally open valve and an abutment on the free end of said rod normally spaced from said float and engageable therewith for closing said valve.

4. The combination of claim 3 and means for adjusting the extent of opening of said gas outlet port.

5. The combination of claim 4 and a gas filter in said chamber having an aperture for slidably and guidingly receiving said rod.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said last-named means includes a housing in communication with said liquid outlet port and said by-pass, a rod secured to said float controlled valve extending into said housing, a manually operable valve in said by-pass, and means responsive to the pressure in said Icy-pass for actuating said rod and'urging the float controlled valve against pressure in said chamber.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said pressure responsive means includes an apertured cylinder in said housing and a piston on the free end of said rod slidable in said cylinder.

8. A gas distillate trap comprising a casing having an open upper end, said casing having gas inlet and liquid outlet ports therein, a cover for said casing having a gas outlet port therein, a valve for said liquid outlet port and a float disposed in said casing and controlling said liquid outlet valve, valve means for said gas outlet port responsive to a predetermined rate of flow of gas through said gas outlet port for selectively closing said gas outlet port, a gas filter attached to said cover below said gas outlet port and slidably received in said casing, said filter having a transverse bore extending therethrough, an actuator rod carried by said valve means and slidably and guidably extending through said bore, the free end of said rod normally terminating in vertical spaced relation to said float, said float engaging said free end of said rod in response to a predetermined upward movement of said float to close said gas outlet port.

TILLMAN JONES McINTYRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 251,726 Mueller et a1. Jan. 3, 1882 286,326 Maxson Oct. 19, 1883 484,526 Valentine Oct. 18, 1892 1,045,693 Gillman Nov. 26, 1912 1,521,386 Neill Dec. 30, 1924 1,631,454 Bambach et a1 1. June 7, 1927 1,674,699 Overstrom June 26, 1928 1,941,030 Williams Dec. 26, 1933 2,177,330 Pressler Oct. 24, 19 9 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,785 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1890 of 1890 

